In May 2008, after seven years of discussion, Council approved the implementation of the Green Bin program. Council supported this program for the following reasons:

•  The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has set a waste diversion target for municipalities to redirect 60% of their waste from disposal.
•  The City of Ottawa’s Blue and Black Box Recycling Programs have been extremely successful. However, Ottawa’s diversion rate has remained at 32% - one of the lowest in Ontario.
•  Organics form the largest portion of the residential waste stream (approximately 45% of our garbage), so organics was targeted to move the City’s diversion rate closer to the provincial target of 60%.
•  The Green Bin Program will extend the life of the City’s landfill. Locating and building a new landfill is expensive. Toronto recently spent over $220 million to purchase a new landfill that is expected to last 15 years if they achieve a 42% diversion rate, 26 years if they achieve a 70% diversion rate. No neighbourhood is anxious for a landfill in their backyard, as we have experience first-hand.

Along with most of the larger municipalities in Ontario, including Hamilton, Toronto, the Regions of Durham, York, and Halton, and other smaller centres like Perth and Pembroke, and after years of pilot programs, Council weighed the environmental and economic benefits, and decided to proceed with the Green Bin Program.

How will the program work?

Just as Ottawa residents separate out recyclable materials into their black or blue bins, the new Green Bin program makes it easy to separate out organics for curbside pickup.

Use the small, specially-designed kitchen bins to collect organic materials including kitchen scraps (vegetable, fruits, meat, fish, bones, dairy products, coffee grounds and filters), yard waste and other organic household materials. Simply empty the organics into the large green bin for curbside pick up.

Once collected, organic material will be transported to a state-of-the-art, indoor composting facility where it will be converted into usable compost.

Proposed fees for garbage and recycling

The City’s Audit, Budget and Finance Committee is proposing to have the Green Bin program added to the tax bill - along with recycling programs.

 
Based on an average property assessment of $287,500, the costs are:

•  $23 for recycling/diversion (blue/black boxes)*
•  $38 for the green bin program*
•  $89 for garbage collection

* - Varies based on property assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the City of Ottawa implementing a Green Bin program?
    
   The City of Ottawa’s Green Bin program is an integral part of the City’s overall strategy for waste management. By diverting organic waste, we are able to extend the life our landfills and produce valuable compost that will be used by local farmers and for City initiatives. Independent research in 2008 shows Ottawa is ready for the green bins with 70 per cent of residents surveyed indicating they welcomed the Green Bin program and another 20 per cent interested in knowing more about it.
    
   | TOP |
    
2. Is the Green Bin Program mandatory?
    
   The Green Bin Program is the same as the Black and Blue Box recycling programs. A household may choose not to participate and can refuse a Bin. However, the household will still be charged for the service. In 2010, all single residential properties and low-rise multi-unit residential properties will receive the Green Bin with the exception of homes in the remote rural areas of the City. In 2011 all high-rise, multi-unit residential properties will get the Green Bin service.
    
   | TOP |
    
3. Who will receive the Green Bin program?
    
   Starting in September to mid-December 2009, Solid Waste Operations (SWO) will begin the roll out of the green bin in three phases:
    
   Phase 1a: Delivery of green bins will start mid September, 2009 and take until mid December 2009, with collection starting in January 2010 for most Ottawa homes, specifically single residential properties, low-rise multi-unit residential properties with six units or less, rural village and estate residents with curb-side pick up.
    
   Phase 1b: The remaining multi-unit housing with curb side collection will receive their green bins and begin participating in the program before September of 2010.
    
   Phase 2 (2011): will include high-rise, multi-unit residential properties.
    
   Phase 3 (2012): with Council’s approval) will include the rural properties that were not included in the leaf and yard waste / organics collection over the duration of the last contract.
    
   | TOP |
    
4. How much of my garbage can be accepted in the green bin?
    
   Approximately 45 per cent of the garbage (by weight) set out by the average Ottawa household is compostable organic material that can be put into the green bin.
    
   Why should people use the green bin if they already use their backyard composter?
    
   Backyard composting of organics and lawn materials is a great option for people who are so inclined, but not everyone can or wants to compost in their backyard. The Green Bin program provides a way for those people to participate in a large-scale composting program. If you are a backyard composter, green bins can complement your activities, providing you with an opportunity to divert even more materials such as food-soiled paper products, used tissues, meat, dairy, cooking oil and kitty litter, which aren’t suitable for a backyard composter.
    
   | TOP |
    
5. Is the compost processing facility accepting diapers and plastics?
    
   The City’s green bin program prohibits plastics and sanitary products such as diapers. We have no plans to include them as part of the Green Bin program.
    
   We made a concerted effort to develop the best possible organics program that will divert the most organic waste from current landfills, and result in a more marketable end product at a lower cost to the City. We believe plastics of any sort are difficult to separate from the organic waste and result in higher levels of residual waste and odours.
    
   There are two primary reasons that plastics will not be permitted:
    
   First, plastic will impede the composting process: Plastic prevents the flow of air through the organic material, causing it to smell. It also reduces the quality of the final state compost and increases the cost for processing.
    
   Second, the plastic residue would still need to be disposed of post composting: As such, they adversely affect the compost, and increase the amount of material that must be screened out of the compost and sent to landfill.
    
   Diapers cannot be included in your green bin due to the plastic content. Diapers should go in your normal trash.
    
   By not including plastics in the Ottawa Green Bin program, we can keep the cost of the program down, eliminate the need for additional disposal of contaminants and create a better end product.
    
   | TOP |
    
6. Will the City provide more than one bin? Or even more than one kitchen bin? If not, where can they be purchased and for how much?
    
   If a resident wants an additional green bin or kitchen container, the resident is responsible to pay for the containers on pick up at any of the Client Service Centres listed below. Containers are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
    
   •  The cost per green bin for 2009 is $35.00.
   •  The cost per kitchen container is $4.00
      
   If you would like to purchase more containers, please visit one of the client service centres listed:
    
   Urban Centers - Monday to Friday:
   City Hall Client Service Centre
   110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa
   8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    
   Kanata Client Service Centre
   580 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata
   8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    
   Ben Franklin Place Client Service Centre
   101 Centrepointe Drive, Nepean
   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    
   Orléans Client Service Centre
   255 Centrum Boulevard, Suite 100, Orléans
   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    
   Rural Centres - Open one day a week as indicated below:
   West Carleton Client Service Centre
   5670 Carp Road, Kinburn
   Wednesday - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    
   North Gower Client Service Centre
   2155 Roger Stevens Drive, North Gower
   Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    
   Metcalfe Client Service Centre
   8243 Victoria Street, Metcalfe
   Tuesday - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    
   Liner bags can be ordered online and are also available at most major retailers including:
    
   •  Canadian Tire
   •  Costco
   •  Home Depot
   •  Home Hardware
   •  Loblaws
   •  Metro
   •  Rona
   •  Sobeys
   •  Zellers
      
   | TOP |
    
7. How do I get a replacement for a stolen/new/broken container?
    
   For stolen or damaged bins, contact 3-1-1.
    
   | TOP |
    
8. I just moved - how do I get a green bin?
    
   Contact 3-1-1.
    
   | TOP |
    
9. What can go in the Green Bin?
    
   The City of Ottawa’s Green Bin program will accept the following organic materials:
    
   Food waste or scraps:
    
   • Baking ingredients, herbs and spices
   •  Bread, cereals, crackers and grains
   •  Candy and gum
   •  Chips, popcorn and nuts
   •  Coffee grounds and filters
   •  Cookies, cakes, muffins and pastries
   •  Dairy products (cheese, sour cream)
   •  Dough
   •  Eggs and eggshells
   •  Fruits and vegetables
   •  Jams, Jellies, Marmelades/chutney
   •  Leftover cooking oils, lard, shortening, fat, butter and margarine
   •  Meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, pork bones and scraps
   •  Nuts and shells
   •  Pasta, beans, rice and couscous
   •  Peanut butter
   •  Pet food
   •  Pits (all types)
   •  Salad dressing, mayonnaise, vinegar, sauces, marinades, dips and gravy
   •  Seeds
   •  Tea and tea bags
      
   Yard waste:
    
   •  Branches, twigs and hedge trimmings
   •  Leaves
   •  Plants and weeds
   •  Grass clippings
   
    
   Other acceptable items:
    
   • Animal bedding (e.g. bird and hamster cages)
   •  Barbeque Ashes
   •  Butcher’s meat wrap
   •  Cold fireplace ash
   •  Cotton balls
   •  Dryer lint
   •  Floor sweepings, vacuum bags and vacuum contents
   •  Food-soiled paper towels, napkins and tissues
   •  Food-soiled pizza boxes (pizza boxes should not go in black bin)
   •  Household plants, including soil
   •  Kitty litter
   •  Microwave popcorn bags
   •  Paper coffee cups, plates and muffin wrappers
   •  Pet fur, hair and feathers
   •  Soiled paper, boxboard and cardboard
   •  Sugar, flour and potato paper bags
   •  Waxed paper, cardboard and cold drink cups
   •  Wooden popsicle sticks and toothpicks
   •  Wood chips, sawdust and untreated wood scraps (less than four inches in any dimension)
      
   Not allowed in the green bin:
    
   •  Plastic bags of any kind (even the compostable varieties aren’t allowed)
   •  Diapers and sanitary products (as they contain plastics)
    
   | TOP |